Remote zone balancing damper and air flow sensor system

ABSTRACT

A remote zone balancing damper and air flow sensor system comprising a differential pressure air flow sensor, a damper having an actuator, a remote terminal connected to the air flow sensor and the actuator, the remote terminal disposed a predetermined distance from the duct, the air flow sensor and damper mounted in a duct, and a detachable controller that is connectable to the remote terminal, the detachable controller configured to receive a signal from the remote terminal and to provide power to the actuator and thereby position the damper according to the calculated air flow.

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a remote zone balancing damper and air flowsensor system, and more particularly, to a remote zone balancing damperand air flow sensor system having a detachable controller forcalculating an air flow rate and for powering a damper actuator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Air-handling systems have traditionally been used to condition buildingsor rooms. An air-handling system can include a system that includescomponents designed to work together in order to condition air as partof the primary system for ventilation of structures. The air-handlingsystem may contain components such as cooling coils, heating coils,filters, humidifiers, fans, sound attenuators, controls, and otherdevices functioning to meet the needs of the structures.

Representative of the art is U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,999 (1995) whichdiscloses a controller for a variable air volume terminal of a variableair volume air conditioning system which comprises a temperature sensingcircuitry for generating a temperature process value, a setpointdetermining circuitry for establishing a temperature setpoint, anairflow signal circuitry for generating an airflow setpoint in responseto the temperature process value and the temperature setpoint. A flowsensing circuitry for generating a flow process value in response to apredetermined set of flow sensing inputs and damper control circuitryfor generating a damper motor operation signal to control the dampermotor in response to the flow process value and the airflow setpoint.The damper control circuitry comprises a fuzzy logic control mechanismfor implementing a set of fuzzy logic rule-based instructions ingenerating the damper motor operating signal.

What is needed is a remote zone balancing damper and air flow sensorsystem having a detachable controller for calculating an air flow rateand for powering a damper actuator. The present invention meets thisneed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary aspect of the invention is to provide a remote zonebalancing damper and air flow sensor system having a detachablecontroller for calculating an air flow rate and for powering a damperactuator.

Other aspects of the invention will be pointed out or made obvious bythe following description of the invention and the accompanyingdrawings.

The invention comprises a remote zone balancing damper and air flowsensor system comprising a differential pressure air flow sensor, adamper having an actuator, a remote terminal connected to the air flowsensor and the actuator, the remote terminal disposed a predetermineddistance from the duct, the air flow sensor and damper mounted in aduct, and a detachable controller that is connectable to the remoteterminal, the detachable controller configured to receive a signal fromthe remote terminal and to provide power to the actuator and therebyposition the damper according to the calculated air flow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part ofthe specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, and together with a description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the system.

FIG. 2 is a section view A-A of the air flow sensor and damper assemblyin FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the air flow sensor and damper assembly.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the air flow sensor and damper assembly.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the air flow sensor and damper assembly.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an alternate damper actuator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the system. The system comprises theair flow sensor and damper assembly 100, the wall terminal 200, and thehand held control 300.

The air flow sensor and damper assembly 100 comprises an air flow sensor120 which is installed within a duct 110. Air flow sensor 120 measures adifferential pressure as is known in the art.

A damper 140 is also disposed within duct 110. Damper 140 is actuated bya known actuator 141. Actuator 141 may comprise any suitable actuatorknown in the art, including an electric, pneumatic or manual device.

Actuator 141 and air flow sensor 120 are connected to wall terminal 200.Actuator 141 is connected to the wall terminal 200 by control cable 142.Air flow sensor 120 is connected to the wall terminal by tubes 131, 132at fittings 1310 and 1320.

Wall terminal 200 comprises an RJ11 connector 3100, a total pressurefitting 1320 and a static pressure fitting 1310.

The hand held controller 300 comprises a microprocessor 210 an LCDscreen 220, a pressure transducer 230, a 9v battery terminal 240, a PCterminal block 250 and a FCC connection receptacle 260. The LCD screencan be used to display information relating to air flow. PC terminalblock 250 is used to connect the controller to the actuator. Pressuretransducer 230 coverts the differential pressure received from the airflow sensor 120 into an electrical signal.

Microprocessor 210 includes software for calculating an air flow rate infeet per minute based upon the signal received from the pressuretransducer 230. Controller 300 also provides power to the actuator 141by which the damper 140 is positioned.

Using the controller, a user will select the proper position for thedamper based upon the desired airflow rate for the duct in which thesystem is located. If the desired airflow rate matches the air flow ratecalculated from the signal, then the user does not reposition thedamper. If the desired air flow rate does not match the desired air flowrate, then the user will use the controller to send a signal to theremote terminal and thereby to the actuator to move the damper until thedesired air flow rate is achieved. The damper can be “parked” in anyposition between 100% open and 100% closed.

The power used to energize the actuator is onboard the controller 300.The preferred power source is a 9 volt battery, however, any battery orcombination of batteries known in the art may be used with equalsuccess.

Hand held controller 300 comprises a display 301 for displaying air flowinformation in cubic feet per minute. Controller 300 also comprises keys302 whereby a user can input information into the controller or tochange or manipulate resident information.

The hand held controller 300 can be connected to the wall terminal 200by a cable 310 used to engage the RJ11 port 3100. Cable 310 comprises aknown RJ11 cable.

FIG. 2 is a section view A-A of the air flow sensor and damper assemblyin FIG. 3. Air flow sensor 120 is disposed upstream of the damper 140 induct 110. In this embodiment damper 140 comprises a single blade,however, a damper comprising two or more blades may be used as well.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the air flow sensor and damper assembly. Theair flow sensor 120 comprises two tubes that cross at a right angle,centered in duct 110. Each tube has a single hole 122 on the upstreamside of each tube. Pressure tubes 131, 132, extend from sensor 120through duct 110.

Damper 140 comprises a shaft 145 to which a damper blade 146 isattached. Actuator 141 is attached to shaft 145.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the air flow sensor and damper assembly.Air flow sensor is disposed upstream of the damper blade 140. Actuator141 is mounted to the exterior of duct 110.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the air flow sensor and damper assembly.Pressure tubes 131, 132 protrude from duct 110. Damper 140 meters theflow of air through duct 110.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an alternate damper actuator. A cable driveworm gear actuator 150, 151, 152 is shown. Worm gear 150 is connected tothe damper. Cable 151 is connected between the worm gear 150 and theremote driver 152. A user operates driver 152 which turns worm gear 150,thereby opening or closing the damper. An example device is Rototwist™200 worm gear system.

Although a form of the invention has been described herein, it will beobvious to those skilled in the art that variations may be made in theconstruction and relation of parts without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention described herein.

1. A remote zone balancing damper and air flow sensor system comprising:a differential pressure air flow sensor; a damper having an actuator; aremote terminal connected to the air flow sensor and the actuator, theremote terminal disposed a predetermined distance from the duct; the airflow sensor and damper mounted in a duct; and a detachable controllerthat is connectable to the remote terminal, the detachable controllerconfigured to receive a signal from the remote terminal and to providepower to the actuator and thereby position the damper according to thecalculated air flow.
 2. The system as in claim 1, wherein the controllercomprises an energy source for energizing the actuator.
 3. The system asin claim 1, where in the controller comprises a visual display.
 4. Thesystem as in claim 3, wherein the controller comprises: a processorconnected to the visual display; a pressure transducer connected to theair flow sensor and to the processor; and the processor using a signalfrom the pressure transducer to calculate an air flow rate, the air flowrate displayable on the visual display.
 5. The system as in claim 1,wherein the air flow sensor is disposed upstream of the damper.